Why automation is every practice manager’s best friend
Automation is quickly revolutionising medical practice management, so let’s take a look at why more practice managers are turning to this smart method of saving time and making workflow easier.
Automating to streamline workflow
Automation can be a powerful way to let technology do all the mundane tasks, leaving practice staff and medical professionals time to focus on patient experience and quality of care. An example of automation is having the ability to monitor and manage your practice performance, such as using Pracsoft’s automated reporting tools and business management reports. You can also view patients’ integrated files and results – all at the touch of a button.
Paper-free automation
Fax, paper and outdated workflow systems are a major frustration for both GPs and practice managers, and with fax still one of the main methods of communication between all healthcare professionals, the status quo simply won’t keep up with the rapid pace of technology. A practice manager that implements workflow automation not only frees up valuable time to focus on more complex matters, but helps open up more time for GPs to offer better, patient-centric care.
The Respiratory & Sleep Medicine Practice, a Wollongong-based practice, which specialises in Respiratory and Sleep Medicine from diagnosis to treatment options, is one example of a practice enjoying the automated workflow benefits of going paperless.
When the practice first started, it used a paper- based system, which Practice Manager, Melinda Campbell, said was getting harder to manage as the practice became busier.
After conducting some research into an easy to use, sustainable and scalable solution, the Respiratory & Sleep Medicine Practice decided to implement Bluechip software from MedicalDirector.
“Bluechip is definitely a scalable solution that helps a growing specialist practice,” Melinda said. “In terms of manageability, patients and appointments are all managed quicker and better. Plus through the software, we’re able to run reports to track our growth as well, and offer that as a spread sheet to the practice owners. This helps give us a true reflection of the growth, and gives us more direction as to which way we should be heading.”
Manage bookings and reduce no-shows
An automated booking system is a great way for practice managers to efficiently manage bookings and reduce no-shows.
Text alerts are an effective way of reducing practice time and money wasted as a result of clients forgetting an appointment. In December 2017, the Behavioral Economics Team of the Australian Government ran a study looking at the effective use of SMS. They discovered it took an average of 10.5 minutes to restore a cancelled payment. It also found a timely SMS reminder to pay on time, saved 240 hours of staff time per fortnight.
This means that if you implement an automated SMS system, you will have regular touchpoints with those renowned for being late, or not showing up, and in turn provide availability to those in need, so they can make the most of an unexpected empty slot.
One practice manager enjoying the benefits of an automated booking system Bondi Junction 7 Day Medical Centre’s practice manager and registered nurse, Christine Dawson.
MedicalDirector’s Clinical and Pracsoft practice management solutions offers the Bondi Junction 7 Day Medical Practice the automated yet user-friendly IT infrastructure it needs to boost practice efficiency, while enabling optimum patient outcomes.
“It was easy for our practice to learn MedicalDirector’s software that has features like patient appointments and SMS reminders,” Bondi Junction 7 Day Medical Centre’s practice manager, Christine Dawson says. “Plus there are a lot of useful online guides and resources to assist you in working things out easily and autonomously.”
Automation and the patient experience
Automation, enhancing clinical practice efficiencies, improving your booking system and streamlining workflows – all have a natural flow-on effect to your patients’ experience. It allows healthcare professionals to spend more quality time with patients and offer more personalised quality of care.
